Scene: An old prospector seated around his campfire eating dinner. First tired hiker walks up to campfire.

1st Hiker: "Hey Old Timer. That grub smells mighty good; would you happen to have any extra to spare?"

Prospector: "Sure sonny; hand me that empty plate over there and I'll fix you right up."

1st Hiker: "Gee, this plate looks kinda dirty."

Prospector: "Dirty? That plate's not dirty, it's as clean as Three Rivers can get it." Prospector dishes up food; hiker shrugs and eats.

1st Hiker: "Well, thanks for the grub. I've got to be moving on."

2nd Hiker: "Boy, I've been hiking for miles and I sure am hungry. Would you have any of that great stew to share?"

Prospector: "You bet. Hand me that bowl over there and I'll fill if for you."

2nd Hiker: (makes a face as he looks at the bowl): "This bowl seems pretty dirty to me. Do you have a cleaner one?"
Prospector: "Dirty? Why, that bowl is as clean as Three Rivers can get it!" Prospector dishes up the food, hiker shrugs and eats it.

2nd Hiker: "I've got to be going, but thanks for the food." 2nd Hiker leaves and prospector finishes eating.

Prospector: "Well, that was mighty good grub. Now time to clean these dishes." (he puts dishes on ground and whistles.) "Three Rivers! Three Rivers!!"

Sent in by Judy Polak
Back in the 1840's the Tates Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products. Since they already made the cases for pocketwatches, they decided to market compasses for the 49ers as they traveled West.
It turned out that, although their watches were of finest quality, their compasses were so bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico, rather than California. This, of course, is the origin of the expression, "He who has a Tates is lost!"

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